The document mentions growing support for assisted suicide and “voluntary” euthanasia of the elderly and disabled. Are there examples or evidence of that?
Voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide have been on the ballots in several states. Assisted suicide is legal today in the states of Oregon and Washington, as well as in several European nations. Many prominent political philosophers and public intellectuals have argued for assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia in the name of compassion and respecting individual liberty. In 1997, six of our nation’s most influential secular philosophers filed a brief in the United States Supreme Court actually asking the justices to declare assisted suicide to be a constitutionally protected right. Fortunately, the justices unanimously declined that invitation, thus leaving the issue to be resolved in the forums of democracy in the individual states. We believe that Christians should join hands with their fellow citizens to stop assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia from spreading, and to roll them back where they have prevailed.
Related Questions
- The document mentions growing support for assisted suicide and "voluntary" euthanasia of the elderly and disabled. Are there examples or evidence of that?
- What is voluntary euthanasia? How is it different from physician assisted suicide?
- Does the proposed bill support assisted suicide or voluntary euthanasia?
